WHEN FORD GETS SOMETHING RIGHT the results can be dazzling. Proving mainstream needn't mean mundane has long been the company's mission. Witness the Mondeo, Focus and Ka all defining their respective sectors thanks to their class-leading dynamics.
As Ford's longest-serving nameplate, the Fiesta has had its ups and downs over the decades, but the Mk7 - built between 2008 and 2017 is another example of Ford at its best. A range of affordable cars that drove brilliantly, this was a Fiesta that felt like it had been shaped by engineers, not accountants.
Sportiest of the lot was the excellent ST, with the special-edition ST200 being the best of the bunch. Introduced in 2016 as the seventh-generation Fiesta was entering its twilight years, it was a fitting send-off to one of Ford's most successful performance models. Built in limited numbers and finished exclusively in Storm Grey, it featured carefully considered performance-enhancing tweaks, plus a generous level of standard equipment, including extremely comfortable Charcoal Grey half-leather Recaro seats.
Full disclosure: this is my ST200. First ordered by my father back in 2016, it remained in his possession until 2021, when he very kindly gave it to me to mark, ahem, a significant birthday. Being a total stickler, he'd kept it in mint condition. With it having covered barely 5000 miles I probably should have stuck it in a dehumidified vault, but that would have been a waste of a great car. Now showing 13,000 miles it's still showroom fresh and drives like it did when new. I love it to bits.
Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Evo UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra May 2023-utgaven av Evo UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Cupra Formentor Abt
It's farewell to the original Cupra Formentor with an Abt-tuned run-out package. It's a quietly excellent car; just a shame about the price...
Renault Sport Clio 200 Turbo
This misguided departure from the French brand's hot hatch heritage saw the Clio fall from grace
REBIRTH OF AN ICON
The Kalmar 9X9 is a modernday reinterpretation of Porsche's game-changing 959 supercar, with a carbon body and up to 917bhp. And evo is helping to develop it
Volkswagen Golf GTI
The underachieving Mk8 GTI gets a shot at redemption with the new, revised Mk8.5 version. Is it the leap forward it needs to be?
BEST BUYS
FAST FORDS FROM THE CORTINA TO THE ESCORT AND THE FIESTA, Ford is responsible for some of the most popular cars in British history. But alongside these everyday machines it has also produced a stream of desirable driver's cars.
HY AND DRY
The switch to electric power means an early exit for Hyundai N's brilliant ICE hot hatch duo. We go for a farewell drive in the 120 N
SEXY BEAST
The Vanquish name is back for Aston Martin's latest seriesproduction flagship, with a stunning new look and simply brutal performance from an 824bhp twin-turbo V12
THE JOY OF DRIVING
From mastering the everyday commute to unlocking the full potential of your performance car, our new series will help you become safer, more confident and ultimately more skilled behind the wheel
TINY DANCER
You haven't seen a Mini dance like this before, but then you haven't seen a Mini with a 4-litre M Power V8 under the bonnet and rear-wheel drive. Introducing Vini...
LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO
Grandaddy to the Temerario and the car that transformed Lamborghini was the brilliant, V10-engined Gallardo. We get reacquainted with a Lambo legend